Itinerary: Bucharest - Curtea de Arges - Sibiu - Sighisoara - Brasov - Bran - Sinaia - Bucharest - Ruse - Ivanovo - Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanassi - Etara - Plovdiv - Rila - Sofia
Day 1 - Bucharest
The legend says that a shepherd called Bucur, coming down from the mountain with his sheep, found here a nice spot between two rivers, Colentina and Dimbovita, which was a perfect place for him to settle. The small village settled by Bucur became along the centuries the nowadays city, one of the most interesting in South East of Europe.
- Arrival in Romania on Bucharest Otopeni International Airport and transfer to your hotel
- Welcome dinner at local rest. In Bucharest
- accommodation at 3* hotel in Bucharest (Central or similar).
Day 2 - Bucharest - Curtea de Arges - Sibiu
The day starts with a visit to The Old Court preserving vestiges of the former princely palaces which existed here during the time of Vlad the Impaler Dracula between 1456-1476. Visit then the Palace of the Parliament, an amazing construction that beggars and surpasses anything one could imagine, an account of its vast dimensions and successions of its vast halls. Proceed to Curtea de Arges, which was Vlad the Impaler's capital in the 15Th century. Prince Neagoe Basarab built here an outstanding monastery. Its unique architecture impressed the popular imagination, giving birth to the ballad of Master Manole. The ballad says that he had entombed his beloved wife in the monastery walls, so that the monastery would last forever. But Master Manole's end was as tragic as his wife's was. The say that when the building was finished the prince ordered to take down all the scaffolds so Manole would die and not be able to build a nicer monastery. Manole made some wooden wings trying to fly down, but he crashed and on that very spot a fountain gushed out.
- After breakfast sightseeing tour of Bucharest ; visit Parliament Palace and Old Court
- Continue to Curtea de Arges and visit the Monastery and Mason Manole's fountain
- drive to Sibiu. Stop on the way to visit Cozia monastery
- accommodation at 3* hotel in Sibiu (Apollo Hermanstadt or similar).
Day 3 - Sibiu - Sighisoara - Brasov - Bran area
Sibiu - city mentioned for the first time in documents on 1192 under the name of Cibinum is one of the most romantic cities of Romania. Through the Council Tower we arrive in the Small Square which is the old commercial center of the fortified citadel. The Liars Bridge is the first Cast Iron Bridge in Romania. Its name comes from the false love declarations young people used to promise in the evenings. Then the tour will take you to Sighisoara - the best-preserved 15th century citadel and the only mediaeval inhabited citadel in Europe. The citadel has 14 towers; each of them had been built and watched by a guild. Here lived, between 1431-1435, Vlad Dracul (Vlad the Devil), future Prince of Wallachia, thus called because the German Emperor knighted him as Knight of the Dragon. He was Vlad the Impaler's father known as Dracula, who was most probably born here in Sighisoara, on 1431. Visit the city of Brasov, one of the largest mediaeval towns in Transylvania. Old fortification ruins of the former burg, the narrow and tortuous streets, the old baroque houses with their bulky arched gates, still, keeps in the downtown the mediaeval patina. Visit Black Church - built between 1385-1477, one of the most important Gothic art monuments in Romania, impressing by its massiveness, the richness of architecture and its historical background.
- Sightseeing tour of medieval Sibiu including: Evangelical Church, Small Square, Catholic Church, Liar's Bridge
- Sightseeing tour of Sighisoara citadel : Clock Tower, The City Walls
- Sightseeing tour of Brasov including Councilor' Square, the Black Church, The Old City Hall, St. Nicholas Church
- Dinner and accommodation in 3* Acvila hotel (or similar) in Moeciu de Jos (Bran area)
Day 4 - Bran area - Bran - Sinaia
Visit Bran Castle, the controversial and contested Dracula's Castle. The fortress-castle was built on 1377 by master masons of Brasov, on a cliff, dominating the whole region. It was arranged by Queen Maria into a most romantic castles: the old garret became the fourth floor, the old cylindrical tower with defense gallery became an apartment, Gothic stone arches framed the entrance doors, stairs and boarded floors were rebuilt. Visit Peles Castle - former summer royal residence of Kings of Romania; the fairylike beauty of the landscape at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains had fascinated the young German prince Carol I of Hohenzollern who was to become the king of modern Romania. It has 106 rooms, an imposing reception hall with fine ornaments of inlaid wood, a gallery of mirrors and a Florentine hall where one can admire splendid Murano chandeliers, a Moorish and Turkish drawing room.
- Visit Bran Castle
- Drive to Sinaia via Paraul Rece and visit Peles Castle
- Dinner and overnight in Sinaia in 3* hotel (Sinaia or similar).
Day 5 - Good bye Romania, welcome to Bulgaria !
Today we shall travel South to Bucharest where from a fast train will take us further to Ruse, Bulgaria. We hope you enjoyed your trip so far and look forward to have you back in order to discover other wonders of Romania.
- After breakfast transfer to Bucharest train station to extend your tour to Bulgaria
- Train transfer to Ruse, Bulgaria
- Upon arriving in Ruse train station, be met by the local English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel in Ruse
- Dinner and overnight in 3* hotel in Ruse (Anna Palace or similar)
Day 6 - Ruse - Ivanovo - Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanassi - Etara - Plovdiv
After early breakfast (07:30-08:30), visit Ivanovo rock carved monastery (UNESCO sight) on the way to Veliko Tarnovo - capital of Bulgaria's Second State (12thC-14thC). The city has a picturesque location on the banks of the meandering Yantra River. On the Tsarevetz Hill there are the relics of the mighty fortress of the Bulgarian monarchs. The town is 5000 years old - this is a place, where every piece of land can tell you a story. Tour the city for one hour then lunch in Arbanassi. Its five churches are unique, striking the visitor by the contrast between their austere outside appearance and the richness and originality of the mural paintings decorating their interior walls. Continue to Etara (visit the open air museum) and Kazanlak where visit Thracian Tomb's replica - UNESCO sight. End the day in Plovdiv.
- Visit rock carved monastery in Ivanovo
- Sightseeing tour of Veiko Tarnovo including Tsarevetz Castle ruins
- Visit Arbanassi village
- Visit Etara open air ethnographic museum
- Visit Thracian Tomb's replica in Kazanlak
- Dinner and overnight at the Seven Hills 3* hotel or similar in Plovdiv
Day 7 - Plovdiv - Rila - Sofia
Early breakfast (07-08). Sightseeing tour of ancient parts of Plovdiv (submitted in 2004 to be included in the world heritage). Beautifully sited on six hills rising in the Plain of Thrace, Plovdiv combines a wealth of monuments from past epochs with the bustle of a modern city. Particularly attractive is the Old Town preserving traces of human occupation over six thousand years. Among Plovdiv's greatest assets are the Thracian fortress crowning one of the hills, the impressive Ancient Theatre from the Roman times (2C) and the splendid National Revival houses (19C) fringing the labirynthine streets of the Old Town. Transfer to Rila for lunch and visit to the monastery - UNESCO sight. End the day in Sofia.
- Sightseeing tour of Plovidv
- Visit Rila Monastery
- Dinner and overnight in Sofia, Renaissance hotel or similar 3*.
Day 8 - Sofia
Breakfast. Full day tour of Sofia including Boyana Church (UNESCO sight), the archaeological complex, St George's Rotunda (4C), containing the oldest mural paintings in Sofia, St Alexander Nevsky's Cathedral housing Bulgaria's most valuable icons, History Museum. Dinner with folklore show and overnight at the Renaissance 3* hotel.
- Sightseeing tour of Sofia
- Farewell folklore show dinner at local restaurant in Sofia
- Overnight in Sofia, Renaissance hotel or similar 3.
Day 9 - Good bye Bulgaria !
Breakfast and transfer to airport.
Day 9 - Good bye Bulgaria !
Breakfast and transfer to airport.
Price: by request
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